Peripheral neuropathy results from injury to the peripheral nerves in the body. These nerves carry signals between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal column) and the muscles, skin, and internal organs. When peripheral neuropathy first develops, people often report a tingling or prickling in the toes, although it can also start in the fingers. Over time, the tingling gradually spreads up the feet or hands and worsens into a burning, shooting, and/or throbbing pain. People who have severe peripheral neuropathy may experience extreme pain and may have difficulty walking, sometimes requiring the assistance of a cane or wheelchair to move around. People who have peripheral neuropathy usually experience symptoms on both sides of their bodies. In other words, peripheral neuropathy almost always occurs in both feet and/or both hands. The sensations can be either constant or periodic. Sometimes they may not be noticeable, while at other times they may be extremely bothersome. Not only can peripheral neuropathy be physically painful, it can also have a profound effect on quality of life. The natural instinct to avoid or reduce pain can prevent people from going about their regular day-to-day activities, whether it be going up and down stairs, visiting with family or friends, or going to work. This can cause a great deal of anxiety and can lead to serious depression—serious emotional problems that can make life seem altogether frustrating. Cannabis (marijuana). In February 2007, University of California, San Francisco researchers published data from a placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of smoked marijuana for the management of peripheral neuropathy-associated pain. The study volunteers were admitted to UCSF and smoked marijuana (containing 3.56% delta-9 THC, the primary active ingredient in cannabis) or placebo cigarettes three times a day for a total of five days. Fifty patients completed the entire study. Over the five-day inpatient period, smoking marijuana cigarettes three times a day reduced the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy by 34%, significantly more than the 17% reduction with placebo cigarettes. Half (52%) of those randomized to cannabis experienced at least a 30% reduction in pain, while a quarter (24%) of those randomized to placebo experienced a similar reduction in pain. The first marijuana cigarette reduced chronic pain by an average of 72% vs. 15% with placebo. In terms of safety, no patients withdrew from the study because of adverse events. While side effects were low in both study groups, the severity of side effects were somewhat higher among patients in the cannabis group, notably reports of anxiety, sedation, disorientation, confusion, and dizziness. Advocacy groups plan to use these data to petition Congress to remove marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act so that it may be consistently prescribed and distributed for medicinal purposes. A number of states have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:42:37 +0000
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